I've been too afraid of asking on Reddit. I'd love a split keyboard with an integrated trackball but the community is creating an overwhelming amount of new content and products.
I have not been able to find a good entry point. The threads often reference shops, specific people, firmwares or discord communities without going into details.
Does anyone happen to know a good resource for how and where to get started today? What's the state of the art, where to buy what etc.
Check out the Samoklava GitHub repository (https://github.com/soundmonster/samoklava) for an example of auto-generated and auto-routed board leveraging Ergogen.
I am following on the steps of FlatFootFox to replicate the Corne (Cherry) in code, WIP for the moment: https://github.com/ceoloide/corney-island
Don't forget to support the creator of Ergogen, MrZealot: https://github.com/sponsors/mrzealot
I developed something similar (PCB only, no cases) as KiCad plugin: https://github.com/adamws/kicad-kbplacer - it uses layouts from keyboard-layout-editor.com as input. It has web interface as well: https://keyboard-tools.xyz/
The one thing that keeps me from building my own keyboard is that I’d want a 3D-curved keyboard (similar to the Microsoft ergonomic keyboards), and I haven’t seen anyone tackling such a project yet. Ergogen as well seems to only support “flat” layouts.
Is there a way to ask for a reasonably-priced custom made keyboard?
I have a key layout in mind, and I just want a ready product, not to fiddle with hardware and firmware myself.
The order lot is very tiny of maybe 4-5 pcs.
The layout is quite simple QWERTY, based on Omnikey Ultra T.
It's frustrating that nobody ever explains how to make your own key caps.
A similar web-based keyboard model/layout generator for Dactyl (concave) keyboards is https://ryanis.cool/dactyl.
I think concave keyboards tend to be more ergonomic than 2d layouts, but to each their own.